Van Gaal: Players must control their emotions at Anfield

United travel to Anfield on Sunday, looking for a win to reassert their chances of a top-four finish and boost their unlikely title bid.

Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was sent off 30 seconds into his last game against United at Anfield last season.

Seeing red: Steven Gerrard was sent off against United at Anfield last season (Image: Getty)

United have had several players sent off in recent years at Anfield and Van Gaal said: “You can see it at the faces of the players. Last season for example, Gerrard is on and sent off within 30 seconds.

“That is not happening so much. We need to be aggressive, but also under control in these kind of matches.

“But that is always difficult, because the passion to play these kind of games is always high.”

Klopp snubbed United

Jurgen Klopp admits Sir Alex Ferguson sounded him out about taking over at Old Trafford before he retired in 2013 and says he turned down Fergie’s proposal to go on United’s shortlist out of loyalty to Dortmund, writes MirrorFootball's David Anderson.

“Yeah, we spoke,” said the Liverpool boss. “It was a big honour for me, the whole talk, to be honest.

“But in life timing is always important and that was a time I could not leave Dortmund. That was it.

Snub: Klopp turned down the opportunity to manage United (Image: John Powell)

“It wasn’t like this where you say ‘come in March or May’. You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season.

“You have this player and this player and this player coming because you are there, but then you are not there anymore. That doesn’t work. Not in my life.

“I didn’t hear about a real offer but, if there was, I could not have done it. I first had to finish the job with Dortmund and then think about other things. Maybe that is not smart, but that is my way.”

Van Gaal reveals Shaw could return early

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal says Luke Shaw could return from his ankle injury soon than originally forecasted.

The Red Devils defender has been sidelined since he suffered a horrific leg break in the 2-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on September 15, report the Manchester Evening News.

The 20-year-old has been stepping up his rehab in recent weeks and updates from the United boss have become increasingly positive.